REPORT: Palm oil market and sustainability in India

“Palm Oil Market and Sustainability in India” is a new WWF report that looks at the global palm oil market and sustainability trends through an Indian lens. It provides an up to date look at palm oil production and market trends, with a focus on India’s role as the world’s biggest importer of palm oil.

The report underscores the negative environmental and social impacts of unsustainable palm oil plantations and highlights initiatives underway to address these issues, such as the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

It also focuses on the actions that the Indian government and companies operating in India can take to support sustainability in the palm oil sector.

India is the world’s largest consumer of palm oil and is responsible for 23% of the global consumption in 2011-12. It is highly dependent on Indonesia for its palm oil supply, with Indonesia supplying almost 73% of India’s local demand. The country therefore plays a key role in the global trade of palm oil and likewise can play a key role in making that trade more sustainable.